Attachment for motion-picture reels.



L. S. BALUTA.

ATTACHMENT FOR MOTION PICTURE HEELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 19I6.

Patented July 10, 1917.

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LEONARD S. BAIIUTA, OF KEISEB, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOB MOTION-PICTURE REELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July M), 1917.

7 Application filed March 3, 1916. Serial No. 81,949.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD S. BALUTA,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at Keiser, in the county of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Attachments for Motion-Picture Reels, of

' which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to motion picture machine accessories, and has particular ref-- erence to a novel attachment for motion pleture reels to facilitate the attaching of the end of the film thereto. As is well known, it is ordinarily a difficult task to attach the end of a picture strip. to the hub of the picture reel, since the attaching usually takes place in a dark magazme, and the means on the reel for engaging the film is almost wholly concealed or rendered inaccessible by the flanges of the reel WlllCll are very close together and of considerable diameter to take care of the very long films now generally used in motion picture display. Although, it has been heretofore attempted to remedy this conditlon, the devices employed to this end have been more or less permanently associated with the reel, thus requiring a special construction which adds to the cost of equipment, and reduces the value of the invention from a practical. and commercial standpoint.

Accordingly, the present invention has primarily in view an attachment which may be detachably and removably'fitted to standard film reels now in use, and which provides for the attaching of the film to the reel in a position outside of the flanges thereof, thus greatly facilitating the securing of the film to the reel without removing the latter from the machine.

Another object of the invention'is to provide for obtaining a better grip on the film than is possible with the ordinary reels now in use, or even other devices which contemplate an attaching clip which is accessible beyond the lines of the flanges of the reel. That is to say, the invention proposes to provide an attachment for gripping the body portion of the film and not merely the end thereof, thus insuring a positive and reliable grip for starting the winding of the film on the reel. In this connectlon, the invention also contemplates novel film gripping means which is reversible and becomes automatically disengaged from the film in unreeling without danger) of damaging the same, but when in use furnishes a triple grip that materially adds to the service citiciency of the attachment.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention :is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed. p

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a motion picture reel with one of the flanges removed showing more clearly the hub portion thereof, and the application of the present invention thereto. n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view of the clip member of the attachment.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the hub of the reel showing the film being wound around the hub, and the triple grip afforded by the clip member.

Similar "reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As indicated, in carrying out the invention, it is proposed to provide an attachment which may be used on any standard type of commercial reel now in use. Accordingly, to this end, the present invention essentially comprises a reel clamping member 1, a film clip member 2, and an intermediate connecting web member 3. As shown the reel clamping member preferably includes a spring metal body bent into substantially circular form so that the ends 4 thereof approximately meet, while the intermediate portion thereof is bent to receive one end of the flexible member 3, thus pro viding a transverse inwardly projecting rib 5. This clamping member is adapted to detachably embrace the hub portion H of a picture film reel designated generally as R, the said hub portion H being preferably provided with a transverse groove G for receiving the rib 5. Thus, the clamp be comes detachably interlocked with the reel,

since the rib constitutes a key for fitting in the groove and preventing relative rota tion of the clamp on the hub of the reel. Accordingly, it will be apparent that the clamping member 1 is detachably or separably interlocked with the hub of the reel, so that while removable therefrom, no relative rotation between the two is possible, and any rotary movement imparted to the reel will cause the same to wind the flexible webbing 3 around the clamp. Although, the rib S and groove G illustrate one form of construction for providing an interlocking engagement between the clamp and reel, it will, of course, be understood that it is within the limits of the present invention to employ equivalent means without departmg from the scope thereof..

The said flexible member 3 which connects the clip 2 with the reel clamping member is preferably of such a length that the latter normally hangs beyond the peripheral edges of the flanges of the reel, and while the same may be of any flexible material, it is preferred to use elastic webbing which will yield or give and thereby remove undue strain on the film in starting, and avoid the usual sudden jerk. Furthermore, this webbing acts as a soft cushion on which the film may be wound thus affording more or less elasticity to the entire reeling operation and pfoviding a gradual and even pull on the fi m.

Another novel and distinctive feature of the invention resides in the construction of the clip member 2 which releasably engages the film. This member preferably comprises a body which is doubled or folded upon itself into a substantially U-shape to provide the opposite walls 6 and 7 which are riveted or otherwise fastened as at 8 to the end of the flexible member 3 opposite the clamp 1. As will appear from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the body of the said clip member is provided at opposite points along the bend or fold line thereof, with the openings 9 and 10. This construction readily permits of the use of a film gripping spring designated generally as 11, and which is substantially S-shape in cross section. That is to say, this holding spring consists of the flat spring film-clamping portions 12-12 respectively arranged on opposite sidesof the clip, and yieldingly bearing thereon, and an intermediate connecting portion 13 located between the walls 6 and 7 and having at one edge the reversely curved film engaging teeth 14 and 15 which project through the openings 9 and 10 at the folded end of the clip. Each of the spring film clamping portions 1212 is provided with an upstanding end portion having a plurality of film engaging teeth 16 which in use constitute one of the three grips for the film as it the film to be attached to the clip 2 with ease and facility in the open. By reference to Fig. 3, it w1ll be clear that a film strip designated as F may be clamped beneath one of the clamping portions 12 of the spring 11 so that the same is held against the exposed face of one ofthe walls of the clip. Thus, the initial grip on the film is a friction grip produced by one of the clamping portions of the film-gripping spring pressing the same against the side of the body of the clip. As the reel is turned and the connectin web 3 wound around the hub, the clip 2 is of course drawn in toward the hub of the reel, so that as the clip turns with the motion of the reel, one of the film engaging fingers 15 will enter the usual marginal perforations or traction openings on the film, and thus constitute a second grip. As shown reel, the film becomes wound around the hub so that the set of upstanding teeth 16 of the clamping finger 12 will again engage with the traction openings .in the margin of the film, thus constituting a third grip for the film, and positively preventing the same from slipping.

By reason of the duplicate construction on each side of the clip member 2, the latter is reversible. That is to say, regardless of which way the reel is to be turned, the clip will present the same film engaging means, whereby in each instance, a triple grip on the film may be obtained. This construction is also of special advantage in facilitating the disengagement of the film when the latter is unwound from the reel. That is to say, in unwinding, it is unnecessary to give any special attention to the end of the film which has been engaged with the clip, since the same automatically vdisengages therefrom. As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the film will leave the tooth or projection with which it was engaged at the lower edge of the clip, while the reverse movement of the film will lift the spring finger which has been holding the same, and thereby become free.

Without further description, it is thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A detachable film coupling device for motion picture reels, including a reel engaging member, a yieldable and flexible strip carried by said reel engaging member, and a clip secured to the free end of said strip and having automatically releasable spring means for frictionally gripping the film, and also having film hole engaging means.

2. A detachable film coupling device for motion picture reels, including a reel engaging clamp, a flexible element having one end connected to said clamp, and a clip carried by the free end of said element and having means for frictionally gripping the film, and also having film hole engaging means.

3. A detachable film coupling device for motion picture reels, including a reel engaging member, a yieldable and flexible strip carried by said reel engaging member, and a clip secured to the free end of said strip and having means for clamping the body of the film to the body of the clip, and also having film hole engaging means.

4. A detachable film coupling device for motion picture reels including a reel clamp, a yieldable and flexible strip connected to said clamp, and a clip carried by the free end of said spring and having duplicate spring members on opposite sides thereof for frictionally gripping the film, and also havin film hole engaging. means.

5. 11 an attachment for motion picture reels including a reel clamping member, a reversible film clip having duplicate film engaging means on each side thereof, and an elastic connection between said film clip and. reel clamping member.

6. In an attachment for motion picture reels including a reel clamping member, a

V reversible film clip having duplicate film engaging means on opposite sides and at the end thereof, and an elastic connection between said film clip and the reel clamping member.

7. In an attachment for motion picture reels including a reel clamping member, a film clip including the body member, a film engaging spring having clamping portions bearing on opposite sides of the body, and also having positive film hole-engaging means, and an elastic connection between said film clip and reel clamp.

8. In an attachment for motion picture reels including a reel clamping member, a film clip including a body member having openings, a film engaging spring carried by said body member and having laterally projecting film hole engaging means protruding through said opening, and also having clamping portions bearing on opposite sides of the body, and an elastic connection between the body of the film clip member and said clamping member.

9. In an attachment for motion picture reels including a reel clamping member, a film clip including a folded body member having openings in its folded-end, a film engaging spring having an intermediate portion lying within the body member and provided with laterally ofi'set reversely curving film hole engaging projections protruding through said openings, and also having clamping portions bearing on opposite sides of the body, said clampingportions having reversely disposed upstanding sets of film engaging teeth, and an elastic connection between the film clip and reel clamping member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEONARD S. BALUTA. Witnesses RAYMOND B. JULIUS, H. O. Mosnn. 

